Early learning difficulties and poverty linked to later youth justice contact, study finds

A new study using ADR UK flagship data has found that children who show early signs of developmental delay are more likely to end up in contact with the youth justice system later on – especially if they also grow up in poverty.

The research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council and carried out by Dr Hope Kent for her PhD studentship (who is now undertaking an ADR UK Research Fellowship), used the Ministry of Justice–Department for Education (MoJ–DfE) linked dataset. It looked at how children’s development at age 4 or 5 relates to whether they later received a caution or conviction from the police by age 15 or 16.

Early challenges can shape later outcomes

The study found that children who scored lower on the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (EYFSP) – which measures development across areas like communication and language, physical co-ordination, interpersonal skills, and emotional regulation – were more likely to have had justice system contact as teenagers.

While contact with the criminal justice system was rare overall, there was a clear pattern: lower early development scores were linked to a higher risk.

“The findings don’t mean that learning difficulties cause criminal behaviour,” said Hope. “Instead, they point to the consequences of unmet needs - when early challenges aren’t identified and children aren’t supported properly, they might be more likely to face problems in school and later life.

Poverty makes things worse

The link between early development and justice system contact was even stronger for children living in poverty. Those eligible for free school meals faced a higher risk at every development level — and when poverty and developmental delay occurred together, the risk was highest.

The study describes this as a “double disadvantage”: encountering difficulties early in life and growing up in poverty can increase the chances of falling through the cracks.

Missed opportunities to support children

The research builds on existing evidence showing that many young people in the justice system have learning or developmental needs — such as acquired brain injury, ADHD, autism, or speech and language issues — that were never identified or supported in school.

The findings highlight the need for earlier and more consistent checks for special educational needs, and for schools to be better equipped to support children with different developmental profiles.

“These needs are often overlooked,” Hope said. “If schools had more resources to identify and respond to children with special educational needs early on, we could help prevent later harm. If we’re serious about preventing youth offending, we must start by investing in inclusive education.”

Prevention is possible – but action is needed

Although early life challenges do not automatically lead to poor outcomes, the study shows how disadvantage can build up over time when left unaddressed.

The study calls for two main types of action:

• Targeted support: Improved early screening, special educational needs provision, and joined-up services in education, health and social care.
• System-level change: Investment in policies that reduce child poverty, such as better access to benefits and early years childcare.

“This research supports a public health approach to crime prevention,” Hope explains. “We need to create environments that help all children succeed — not just expect them to fit into systems that aren’t built for them.”

Using data to make a difference

This project was not funded by ADR UK, but used one of ADR UK’s flagship data assets: the MoJ–DfE linked dataset. This rich, secure dataset allows researchers to explore how children’s early education experiences relate to outcomes in later life, including contact with the youth justice system.

It forms a strong example of how linked administrative data can be used to understand complex, interlinked social issues and inform better policy and practice.

Find out more about the MoJ-DfE linked dataset

This research was recently featured on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, highlighting the growing national interest in how early support can reduce future contact with the justice system.